GLAAD - integrityhttp://www.glaad.org/tags/integrity
enObama historically joined by trans and gay faith leaders, bi advocates in signing executive orderhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/obama-historically-joined-trans-and-gay-faith-leaders-bi-advocates-signing-executive-order
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" class="media-element file-file-styles-750px" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2273188%22,%22view_mode%22:%22file_styles_750px%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22file_styles_750px%22,%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="328" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/images/2014-07/obama%20executive%20order.jpg?itok=qkYahlrw" style="height: 407px; width: 750px;" width="605" /></p>
<p>Prominent trans and gay faith leaders and leading bi advocates stood by President Obama <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/president-obama-signs-executive-order-protecting-lgbt-federal-workers-and-contractors">this morning as he signed an executive order</a> prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity against federal workers and contractors. The legislation itself was not the only part of the day to make history; the guest list broke ground, too.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2014/07/21/obama-gives-protection-to-gay-transgender-workers" target="_blank">According to the <em>Associated Press</em></a>, federal contactors employ one-fifth of the U.S. workforce.</p>
<p>Visible right beside the President of the US is Faith Cheltenham, President of the bisexual advocacy organization <a href="http://www.binetusa.org/">BiNet USA</a>, as Obama spoke to the crowd and signed the historic legislation.</p>
<p>"I was so happy to be there and support my president," Faith told GLAAD during a phone call after the event.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/BiNetUSA">@BiNetUSA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thefayth">@thefayth</a> behind <a href="https://twitter.com/Whitehouse_PR">@Whitehouse_PR</a> at Exec Order signing. Historic for country &amp; our community! <a href="http://t.co/w18ESnA8WF">pic.twitter.com/w18ESnA8WF</a><br />— Bi Resource Center (@BRC_Central) <a href="https://twitter.com/BRC_Central/statuses/491234025860653056">July 21, 2014</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>GLAAD continues to work closely with Faith and BiNet USA <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-and-noted-bi-advocates-are-getting-excited-celebrate-bisexuality-day">in preparation for Celebrate Bisexuality Day in September</a>.</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media-element file-file-styles-medium" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2273190%22,%22view_mode%22:%22file_styles_medium%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22file_styles_medium%22,%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" height="220" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/images/2014-07/faith%20cheltenham%20gene%20robinson.jpg?itok=lAakhXvh" style="float: left;" width="165" />Also present at the signing were prominent clergy and lay LGBT advocates, including Vivian Taylor, Executive Director of the Episcopal group <a href="http://www.integrityusa.org/">Integrity</a> and one of the first openly trans ED's of a mainline denominational LGBT organization; and <a href="http://www.glaad.org/tags/gene-robinson">Gene Robinson</a>, the first openly gay bishop in the history of Christianity.</p>
<p>“I am deeply honored to represent Integrity at this historic event. Employment discrimination against our people is still a near-constant threat and burden,” said Vivian, who served in the Iraq war.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.believeoutloud.com/latest/how-employment-discrimination-affects-my-life">a recent blog post</a> for Believe Out Loud, Vivian described her own struggle with employment discrimination, in which she wrote:</p>
<blockquote><p>I am haunted by the frustration, anger, and outright fear of so many who are denied work simply because of who they are…It robs people of the dignity of work and the dignity of self-reliance. According to a study from the National Center for Transgender Equality, 47% of transgender people have faced employment discrimination. This number is staggeringly high. Employment discrimination puts transgender people at significantly higher levels of risk of lifetime suicide attempts. Employment discrimination kills.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The executive order does not include an exemption for faith-based groups beyond exceptions for groups directly involved in ministry. Earlier this month, Vivian and Bishop Robinson <a href="http://bit.ly/UhZ62R">co-signed a letter</a> urging Obama not to broaden this exemption. <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-historic-moment-transgender-priest-becomes-first-preach-national-cathedral">Cameron Partridge</a>, first openly transgender priest to preach at Washington National Cathedral, was also among the dozens of signers who were representing a variety of faith traditions.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 22, 2014</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/bisexuality">Bisexuality</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/transgender">Transgender</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<!--
THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY.
See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details.
After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this
HTML comment.
-->
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/faith-cheltenham">Faith Cheltenham</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/gene-robinson">Gene Robinson</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/bishop-gene-robinson">Bishop Gene Robinson</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/binet">BiNet</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/binet-usa">BiNet USA</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/employment-non-discrimination-act">Employment Non-Discrimination Act</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/enda">ENDA</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/employment-non-discrimination">Employment Non-Discrimination</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/executive-order">executive order</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/cameron-partridge">Cameron Partridge</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/vivian-taylor">Vivian Taylor</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/integrity">integrity</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Tue, 22 Jul 2014 21:54:51 +0000alexandrabolles71781 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/obama-historically-joined-trans-and-gay-faith-leaders-bi-advocates-signing-executive-order#commentsFaith Leaders Offer Praise for Prop 8 Rulinghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/faith-leaders-offer-praise-prop-8-ruling
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="media-image" height="189" id="2" style="float: left; width: 300px; height: 189px; ;" width="300" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Prop%208%20Rally%20Roland%20Dawn%20and%20others.jpg?itok=Yj-K-Uab" alt="" /></p>
<p>In the wake of Tuesday’s Ninth Circuit Court decision affirming the ruling that Prop 8 was in violation of the federal constitution, a number of religious and faith groups issued statements in support of the decision. The court decision was clearly a legal decision. However, the case, and the overall issue of marriage equality, is set amidst the backdrop of the relationship between LGBT people and communities of faith.</p>
<p>A variety of faith-based groups issued statements praising the court’s decision. These organizations are working toward the full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the church, but also recognize that their vocation calls them to work for the full participation in society as well.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/">United Church of Christ</a> (UCC) has given freedom to its congregations to bless gay and lesbian couples for many years now. <a href="http://www.ucc.org/news/united-church-of-christ-4.html">Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer</a>, UCC executive for LGBT concerns, “Same-sex couples should have the right to marry because it is the only way to honor religious liberty. Many of our United Church of Christ pastors and congregations perform religious marriage rites for same-sex couples, and do so out of their theological convictions.”</p>
<p>Yvette Flunder, Presiding Bishop of <a href="http://radicallyinclusive.com/">The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries</a>, gave a more personal testimony, “How could there be any other outcome? We have been a family for 28 years, loving each other, raising children, paying taxes, enduring illness, experiencing and celebrating life and worshipping God. I am thankful for families everywhere. Family is everything.”</p>
<p>Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson is the Moderator of the <a href="http://mccchurch.org/">Metropolitan Community Churches</a> (MCC). The MCC is a denomination formed to meet the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Dr. Wilson reflected on the MCC history and the role it has played to help celebrate this step forward, “Since MCC's founding in 1968, we have understood that God's blessings rest upon all sacred relationships, including those between people of the same gender. We applaud and bless the wisdom of our federal judges as they protect the constitutional rights and religious freedom of all people.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.integrityusa.org/">Integrity</a>, the leading grassroots voice for full inclusion in The Episcopal Church, has called on The Episcopal Church to use its pastoral resources at this time. According to the statement, "Integrity calls upon the bishops of the six California dioceses to extend a generous pastoral response to lesbian and gay couples so that our legal rights can be celebrated in our churches and our marriages blessed by the church in the same manner afforded to our straight friends and family. This is an enormously important symbol of the Episcopal Church’s true willingness to welcome all people even those of us who are LGBT and to extend all the sacraments to all the baptized.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mpvusa.org/">Muslims for Progressive Values</a>, who asserts that Islam is inherently progressive, inclusive and egalitarian, commended the ruling by saying, “We endorse the human and civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) individuals. We support full equality and inclusion of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, in society and in the Muslim community.”</p>
<p>Michael Adee, Executive Director for <a href="http://www.mlp.org/article.php/Proposition8RuledUnconstitutional">More Light Presbyterians</a>, stated, “Marriage equality is a pastoral care responsibility for every minister and congregation. Everyone has the right to be part of a family. We believe that love is a gift from God.”</p>
<p>Todd Ferrell, President of <a href="http://www.t-e-n.org/">The Evangelical Network</a>, put the ruling for marriage equality within the commandment to love, “We know that the greatest commandment is to Love our neighbor and we know that when justice is denied for one it is denied for all. We know we stand on the right side of history when Grace trumps legalism and this is one more step toward the church being what we have been called to be.”</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="300" id="2" style="float: right; width: 200px; height: 300px;;;" width="200" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/The%20Gathering%20Roland%20Dawn%20Others.jpg?itok=cNKXB36Z" alt="" />Dr. Riess Potterveld, president of <a href="http://www.psr.edu/">Pacific School of Religion</a>, one of many seminaries and divinity schools that make up the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., said, “As people of faith, we respect those whose faith traditions differ from ours on the issue of same sex marriage. We invite them now to stand with us and to put aside the rancor that has divided us during this long and difficult campaign as we work together to make a better California for all families.”</p>
<p>Karen Barr, Moderator of the <a href="http://www.gladalliance.org/">GLAD Alliance</a> of welcoming Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations, commented, “We look forward to the day that all families will have the same legal protections, to the day that our society will recognize that all families are important and valuable, to the day that persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities are recognized as created in the image of God. We are one step closer to that vision today. Thanks be to God”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.equally-blessed.org/">Equally Blessed</a>, a coalition of LGBT Catholic organizations, recognized that Tuesday’s ruling still meant struggle for LGBT people ahead. “We know that same-sex couples and their families face obstacles and barriers that opposite-gender couples simply do not encounter, and pledge to raise the voice of the Catholic majority, which supports marriage equality, on their behalf.”</p>
<p>GLAAD applauds all the faithful organizations that call for marriage equality in California and across the country. We also call on the mainstream media to include the voices of faith from faith-based religious organizations working toward full equality for all. These voices of real people who are living out their faith are powerful in understanding the real relationship between faith and support for LGBT people. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">February 9, 2012</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/local-and-regional-news">Local and Regional News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<!--
THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY.
See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details.
After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this
HTML comment.
-->
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/proposition-8">Proposition 8</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/united-church-christ">United Church of Christ</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/metropolitan-community-church">Metropolitan Community Church</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/fellowship-affirming-ministries">The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/integrity">integrity</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/muslims-progressive-values">Muslims for Progressive Values</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/more-light-presbyterians">More Light Presbyterians</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/evangelical-network">The Evangelical Network</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/pacific-school-religion">Pacific School of Religion</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/glad-alliance">GLAD Alliance</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/equally-blessed">Equally Blessed</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/marriage">Marriage</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/faith">Faith</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/religion-and-politics">Religion and Politics</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:12:18 +0000rossmurray48495 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/faith-leaders-offer-praise-prop-8-ruling#commentsUPDATE: GLAAD Demands and Receives an Apology from Notre Dame and The Observerhttp://www.glaad.org/2010/01/19/update-glaad-demands-and-receives-an-apology-from-notre-dame-and-the-observer
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>On January 13, <em>The Observer</em>, the student newspaper at the University of Notre Dame ran an incredibly offensive and dangerous cartoon. In the cartoon, two characters have the following dialogue:</p>
<p>“What is the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable?”<br />
“No idea”<br />
“A baseball bat.”</p>
<p>According to the cartoonists’ now-defunct blog, the original version had used the punch line, “AIDS,” instead of “A baseball bat,” but editors of the school paper had decided that was too problematic.</p>
<p>GLAAD immediately reached out to the student paper and demanded an apology and action be taken to prevent this type of thing from happening again. GLAAD also contacted the office of the President of Notre Dame to insist that the administration denounce the cartoon and its message of violence.<a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/NotreDame_Logo.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-17508" title="NotreDame_Logo" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/NotreDame_Logo.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="173" /></a></p>
<!--more--><p>
<em>The Observer</em> acted quickly, <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/responsibility-for-offensive-comic-1.1011631">publishing an editorial</a> retracting the cartoon and apologizing for it in the following day’s edition. The <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/the-mobile-party-apology-1.1011634">cartoonists issued an apology</a> in the form of a letter to the editor – they also pulled down their blog entirely. <em>The Observer</em> provided space for guest columns about the cartoon to a <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/how-we-know-our-university-has-failed-1.1011653">professor of sociology</a>, the school’s “<a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/core-council-response-1.1027345">Core Council</a>,” <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/open-letter-against-hate-1.1027344">Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae</a> of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College, as well as GLAAD. GLAAD’s op-ed will be submitted this week. The editor that made the dangerously misguided decision to publish the cartoon <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/letter-from-the-assistant-managing-editor-1.1027337">resigned from the paper</a>, and the Editor in Chief has decided to <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/observer-discontinues-mobile-party-comic-1.1026072">cancel future publication</a> of the cartoon.</p>
<p>Additionally, the President of the University of Notre Dame <a href="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100116/NEWS01/100119508/0/xml">issued a statement</a> about the cartoon: “The University denounces the implication that violence or the expressions of hatred toward any person or group of people is acceptable or a matter that should be taken lightly.”</p>
<p>The Editor in Chief of <em>The Observer</em> is <a href="http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/the-observer-viewpoint-policies-1.1027338">revising internal policies</a> to avoid this type of dangerous content from being published again. One of the very first actions she took was to place a copy of GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide at every work station at the paper.</p>
<p>GLAAD will continue to work with <em>The Observer</em> to foster fair, accurate and inclusive future coverage of LGBT people and issues.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">January 19, 2010</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/local-and-regional-news">Local and Regional News</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<!--
THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY.
See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details.
After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this
HTML comment.
-->
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hate-crime">Hate Crime</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/indiana">Indiana</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/indiana-equality">Indiana Equality</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/integrity">integrity</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/notre-dame">Notre Dame</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:17:30 +0000Adam32641 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2010/01/19/update-glaad-demands-and-receives-an-apology-from-notre-dame-and-the-observer#comments